Welcome to DBSTalk

Welcome to DBSTalk. Our community covers all aspects of video delivery solutions including: Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), Cable Television, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). We also have forums to discuss popular television programs, home theater equipment, and internet streaming service providers. Members of our community include experts who can help you solve technical problems, industry professionals, company representatives, and novices who are here to learn.

Like most online communities you must register to view or post in our community. Sign-up is a free and simple process that requires minimal information. Be a part of our community by signing in or creating an account. The Digital Bit Stream starts here!

Three weeks ago, I called DTV to deactivate the H-24 Receiver in my spare bedroom. They did that immediately. They still have never sent me an empty box to return the old receiver. I even called them again for it. Do I have to beg them to let me send it back to them?

Or can I just keep it or sell it on Ebay? It probably isn't worth $30.

I was charged for a returned receiver a few years ago, had to call FedEx, get the name of the D* employee who received it to get the charge off my bill. They also charged me for a replacement receiver that replaced a unit that expired before the installers truck got off the property. Reversing that charge was quite a bit easier.

A customer of mine that recently switched from D* to E* received the recovery kit in less than a week.

Also have an H20 that can't be re-activated, and D* doesn't want it back. Seems like they would like to recoup some more $$$$ on that unit but they don't.

Not sure why everyone seems to have a different experience, or in my case, never having the same experience twice, LOL.

I have called 3x since having a DVR replaced. I've yet to get a return kit. I am not calling them again. I will keep it until I hear they want it back by charging me for it. Lord help them I will not be happy having to call them a fourth time about it.

Three weeks ago, I called DTV to deactivate the H-24 Receiver in my spare bedroom. They did that immediately. They still have never sent me an empty box to return the old receiver. I even called them again for it. Do I have to beg them to let me send it back to them?

Or can I just keep it or sell it on Ebay? It probably isn't worth $30.

In this case it sounds like it is a leased box. If that is the case, anyone who would purchase it from you would not be able to activate it and would be coming back to eBay to get their money back. The only way leased equipment can be sold as leased is if its from DirecTV or the first time its being activated form anyone else.

At some point if DirecTV does not get it back, they will probably get around to charging your account for it.

My experience has been that when DirecTV is replacing a bad receiver, they expect the old one to be reurned promptly, and they bill you for it if they do not record that they have received it back. On the other hand, if you are just deactivating a receiver, and DirecTV did not send a replacement for it, they are much slower (if ever) to bill you for a non-returned receiver. Also, they do not want some of the older models back, but I would expect that they would want an H-24 back.

Three weeks ago, I called DTV to deactivate the H-24 Receiver in my spare bedroom. They did that immediately. They still have never sent me an empty box to return the old receiver. I even called them again for it. Do I have to beg them to let me send it back to them?

Or can I just keep it or sell it on Ebay? It probably isn't worth $30.

I would definitely call and let them know you have a receiver that is recoverable and have not received one. If they can not get any tracking information for you, have them send one manually. When a recoverable receiver is deactivated, you are supposed to get a recovery kit shipped to you automatically but sometimes it does not ship out.

My posts, whether fact or opinion, are my own and in no way represent DirecTV or any affiliated enterprise or corporation.

I was charged for a returned receiver a few years ago, had to call FedEx, get the name of the D* employee who received it to get the charge off my bill. They also charged me for a replacement receiver that replaced a unit that expired before the installers truck got off the property. Reversing that charge was quite a bit easier.

We do hear of the stories about those that got charged when the DVRs were returned, that has happened with both D* and E* at times. But it is an issue that should never happen! When you put that returned unit in the hands of the shipper THEY chose, your responsibility should end and that point. And in fact, I think it does end there and if they try to charge and you can show their shipper received it, I think they would back down from an argument.

In my case, I pay the bills with a very low limit credit card so that worse case they might get a very few hundred dollars, but in general I keep a balance on that so that there is only enough available to cover bills as they come due. That way if they want to recover some money they have to talk to me to get it.

just had a E* return a month ago and they waived retrieving the LNB, it was roof mounted and the ground was snow covered.

and a recent D* return they waived the SWiM power inserter being returned as it was in the ceiling over the water softener and water heater. Asked home owner how the original tech had managed to put the inserter there and he said the water softener went in later.

I don't think these non returned accessories are a big deal, homes go back and forth between the 2 provides fairly often, most items will see use again.

Still wonder about E* being so an*l retentive about old remotes. Used to be techs would leave 'em, and a few techs would let me have returns to pass out to folks with problems. No more, I Ebay replacement remotes to have a stock on hand and have to charge for them. Nice PR to be able to pass out a free remote once in a while. Techs say they still trash can returned remotes but have to account for them. Somebody needs an additional remote for a mirrored system it just seemed like a nice use for a 'gently' previously enjoyed remote control.